President laments slow progress of UDP
- Projects should have been well advanced
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo has criticised the slow implementation of the Urban Development Programme (UDP) to upgrade municipalities, adding that the project should have accomplished more it its five years of existence.
However, he noted that the UDP, which has been problematic, is earmarked to spend $400M on street repairs in the City this year.
“The UDP has been very slow. We had designs problems. We had problems with getting contractors. Some of the contractors were very slow, especially in the New Amsterdam project and then we had some faulty work. So the work was very slow. I am pleased now that they are getting their act together and they have already started designing the 200 roads in the City. This is an old project – almost five years old. It should have been much further advanced,” he said.
The UDP is a Government of Guyana Project, funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at a cost of $4,925,000,000. The project began in March 1999 and was schedule to be completed by September 2005. However, the delays have led to an extension being granted, since the project is now approaching Phase II.
UDP aims to enhance the capacity of municipalities in Georgetown, Region Four; Rose Hall, Corriverton and New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) and Anna Regina, Region Two.
President Jagdeo noted the need to accelerate the implementation of the UDP projects so that the resources could be fully utilised. A significant portion of the resources remains unspent.
Several projects have been completed and commissioned, under Phase One, Stage One including the Anna Regina Town Hall, the New Amsterdam Market ($109M), the Skeldon Market, Stabroek Market and the Rose Hall Market and Town Hall. The Corriverton Market was constructed as two separate buildings at a cost of $89M and the Wismar Market at a cost of approximately $100M.
In Georgetown, roads including Robb and Norton Streets were repaired at a cost of $233M. Pitt Street in New Amsterdam was also rehabilitated.
In Linden, the UDP undertook the construction of new roads at One Mile, Canvas City and Mora Street. Work on Canvas City has been extended to the Wismar Housing Scheme and was completed in January.
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President meets Christian community on March 3
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo will be meeting leaders of the Christian community on March 3.
As was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing on February 24, the encounter would be held at 16:30 hrs on the lawns of State House.
The encounter was originally billed for December 9, but was postponed because of inclement weather.
At the encounter, leaders from the Christian community would have been given the opportunity to raise concerns which would be addressed by the President and Government Ministers.
The religious encounter with the Christians follows the Head of State’s hosting of Diwali Utsav on October 22 and the post-Ramadan encounter on November 12, 2005 at State House.
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Republics of Slovak, Austria send congratulations for 36 th Republic anniversary
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2006
The government and people of Guyana have received congratulations from the government and people of the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Austria on the occasion of its 36 th Republic anniversary.
The correspondence from Austria was sent by the Federal President Heinz Fischer and conveyed warmest congratulations and best wishes for the future.
Similar sentiments were conveyed by the Slovakian Republic President Ivan Gasparovie.
President Gasparovie’s correspondence, expressed optimism that “the relations between the Slovakian Republic and the Republic of Guyana will keep on developing.”
On February 23 each year Guyanese celebrate the occasion of the country’s Republican status. Guyana was declared a Republic in 1970, four years after it gained independence from Great Britain.
As usual, government allocates a substantial sum for Mashramani celebrations to State agencies and Ministries that participate in the annual float parade.
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Region Four D&I programme for Wednesday launch
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2006
Several more jobs would be created in Region Four shortly with the launching of the drainage and irrigation programme.
President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to launch the programme on Wednesday, March 1, which targets mainly young people without a formal education. They would be hired by central Government to maintain the drainage systems in their respective communities and it is open to both men and women.
The labourers would be attached to Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which would be responsible for monitoring their work.
The NDC has the option of setting tasks to be accomplished by the labourers or have them work for four days weekly. They would be paid $25,000 per month and will have at least a one-year contract.
Under this programme 3500 persons would be hired from various communities across the country. About 400 would be recruited from the City, 600 from the East Coast and East Bank Demerara, 600 from Berbice, 500 from Linden and the remainder from other parts of the country.
The programme, which was recently launched in Regions Five, Six and Ten, will cost government $1B annually.
The programme is also intended to assist families, and as such, the number of persons from one family will be limited. Interested persons from the community will be required to apply for employment.
The project was conceptualised as a result of the President’s interactions with people across the country, who were seeking jobs, and expressing reservations about the state of drainage and irrigation in their respective communities.
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Swedish Ambassador accredited
Georgetown, GINA, February 27, 2006
Today President Bharrat Jagdeo received the Letters of Credence from Ambassador Sten Ask during an accreditation ceremony at the Office of the President.
The Ambassador also presented the Letters of Recall from his predecessor to President Jagdeo.
Establishment of Guyana and Sweden’s warm and friendly diplomatic relations dates back to June 16, 1975. These relations are based on mutual understanding and a commitment to the values of democracy, peace and progress.
The relations were accentuated in 1996, when Sweden wrote-off Guyana’s debt to the Swedish Exports Credits Guarantee Board.
Additionally, the Government of Sweden co-sponsored the United Nations Resolution on the New Global Human Order, promoted by Guyana’s former President, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan. The New Global Human Order seeks to focus attention on the serious global issues confronting nations of the world and more specifically, the developing world.
Also present at the accreditation ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rudy Insanally, Director-General of the Ministry Ambassador Elizabeth Harper, other officials of the Ministry and Guyana’s Honorary Consul to Sweden Clifford Reis.
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President Jagdeo joins Shiv Raatri celebrations
Georgetown , GINA, February 27, 2006
President Bharrat Jagdeo last evening joined Hindus at the annual celebration of Shiv Raatri at the Cove and John Ashram, East Coast Demerara, Region Four.
While the President missed the formal ceremony in the morning, he participated in Shiv Raatri observances later in the day. He joined them for prayers and the feast.
Shivaraatri is an auspicious day on the Hindu calendar, and focuses on consecrated worship, as it is regarded as the day “Lord Shiva is most easily pleased.”
The concept behind the occasion is that there is only one God and every one should separate himself/herself from negativity and live a quality and positive life after the creator.
The theme of this year’s celebrations is Universal Emancipation, Universal Unification. The celebrations continued into the night and even though lengthy, the “rewards are great.”
This day also coincides with the death anniversary of the founder of the Cove & John Ashram, Swami Pravavananda, as well as 50 years of existence for the Ashram.
The Ashram, which was started as a Hindu college, was later opened to offer secondary education to public students. However, two years ago, it reverted to the status of a Hindu college. President Jagdeo once taught at the Cove and John Secondary School.
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